Julia Ann De Groome

Born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, to parents John and Mary Smith, she was baptised on 28 July 1820, denomination Anglican.  Her father was an Innkeeper in Bridge Street, Worksop.  His name also appears in Pigots Directory 1818-1820 under the heading of Malsters in Worksop.

Research has not been able to find her whereabouts before her marriage to Henri Digroome (sic). They married on 5 September 1866 at the Parish Church of Southwick, Sussex.  Neither of them had been married before.  His profession is guilder (sic) and William Digroome, his father, was a builder.

The next record is the 1871 census and Julia Ann is recorded living at Pentico Farm, Ramsbury, Wiltshire, the widow of Henrie De Groome (sic).  John Lee farmed the 90 acres at this time and she was employed as Housekeeper. There were three other employees:  Stephen Pain, a Carter, aged 19;  Charles Stevens, a Groom, aged 17; and George Pain, a Ploughboy, aged 15.

In 1881 she is recorded visiting her widowed sister Eleanor Elizabeth Garne, at 3 Shaw Crescent, whose husband Henry Jenner Garne, a Painter and Glazier, had died on 13 May 1877. His working premises were based at 31 Northbrook Street.  Another visitor was Eleanor’s grandson, Victor Chart, aged 10 years, born in Newbury.  Caroline Kent, aged 16, also born in Newbury, was employed as a General Servant.

Her sister Eleanor died in 1888 and Julia Ann moved to Crown Place, Newbury, where she died on 23 November 1890 aged 70 years.  She was interred in a consecrated private grave on 28 November 1890.

No Mrs. P. Code

Sources:  Nottinghamshire Baptisms Index 1538-1917;  Pigots Directory 1818-1820; Select Marriages 5/9/1866 and Marriage Index 3Q 1866; Marriage Certificate; 1871 and 1881 Census; Death Index 4Q 1890; Berkshire Burial Index; Electoral Division Parish of Newbury 1890.

Author: Deirdre Duff
© FNRC